Question 1hardmultiple choice
Full question →hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A host is configured with 192.168.60.33/26. Which address is the network address of its subnet?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Best answer
192.168.60.0
This is correct because .33 is in the 0–63 /26 block.
B
Distractor review
192.168.60.32
This is wrong because /26 boundaries do not increment by 32.
C
Distractor review
192.168.60.64
This is wrong because .64 begins the next /26 block.
D
Distractor review
192.168.60.63
This is wrong because .63 is the broadcast address of the first /26 block, not the network address.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A frequent exam trap is selecting 192.168.60.32 as the network address because it appears as a neat boundary number. However, with a /26 mask, subnets increment by 64 addresses, not 32. Choosing .32 ignores the actual subnet block size and leads to incorrect subnet identification. Another trap is confusing the broadcast address (.63) with the network address. Remember, the network address is always the first address in the subnet block, not the last or a middle address. Misidentifying these addresses causes routing and addressing errors in real networks and exam questions.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
Subnetting divides an IP network into smaller, manageable segments called subnets, each with its own network address. The subnet mask determines the size of each subnet by defining how many bits are used for the network portion versus the host portion. In this question, the host IP is 192.168.60.33 with a /26 mask, meaning 26 bits are fixed for the network and the remaining 6 bits are for hosts. This results in subnets with 64 IP addresses each (2^(32-26) = 64). To find the network address for a given host IP and subnet mask, you identify the subnet block that contains the host. With a /26 mask, the subnet blocks increment in steps of 64 in the last octet: 0–63, 64–127, 128–191, and 192–255. Since 33 falls within the 0–63 range, the network address is the first IP in that block, which is 192.168.60.0. This address identifies the subnet and is used by routers and switches to forward traffic correctly. A common exam trap is confusing the network address with other addresses in the subnet, such as the broadcast address or the first usable host address. For example, 192.168.60.32 is not a network boundary for /26 subnets; it is actually a host address within the 0–63 block. Understanding subnet block sizes and boundaries is critical to avoid such mistakes. Practically, network devices rely on the correct network address to route packets efficiently and prevent IP conflicts within subnets.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- A /26 subnet mask divides an IP address space into blocks of 64 addresses, calculated as 2^(32-26).
- The network address is the first IP address in the subnet block and identifies the subnet uniquely.
- Subnet blocks increment by the block size in the last octet, so /26 subnets increment by 64 addresses (0, 64, 128, 192).
- Hosts with IP addresses within a subnet range share the same network address but have different host addresses.
- The broadcast address is the last address in the subnet block and is not the network address.
- Correct subnet identification requires matching the host IP to the correct subnet block based on the subnet mask.
- Misidentifying subnet boundaries leads to routing errors and IP conflicts in Cisco networks.
- Cisco devices use the network address to route traffic correctly within and between subnets.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A router learns the same prefix from both OSPF and EIGRP. Which route is installed by default?
Question 2
A router shows this output: R1#show ip ospf neighbor Neighbor ID Pri State Dead Time Address Interface 10.1.1.2 1 FULL/DR 00:00:34 192.168.12.2 GigabitEthernet0/0 10.1.1.3 1 2WAY/DROTHER 00:00:39 192.168.12.3 GigabitEthernet0/0 Which statement is correct?
Question 3
What is the OSPF metric called?
Question 4
A non-root switch has two uplinks toward the root bridge. One path has a lower total STP cost than the other. What role will the lower-cost uplink have?
Question 5
A router interface applies this ACL inbound: 10 deny tcp any any eq 80 20 permit ip any any A user reports that web browsing to a server by IP address fails, but ping works. Which statement best explains the behavior?
Question 6
A router learns route 198.51.100.0/24 from OSPF with AD 110 and also has a static route to the same prefix configured with AD 150. Which route is installed?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-301 question test?
A /26 subnet mask divides an IP address space into blocks of 64 addresses, calculated as 2^(32-26).
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: 192.168.60.0 — A /26 uses blocks of 64 addresses. In practical terms, the fourth-octet ranges are 0–63, 64–127, 128–191, and 192–255. Since 33 falls within the 0–63 block, the network address is 192.168.60.0. This is a straightforward boundary-identification question, but it catches people who memorize masks without understanding block sizes. The right approach is to find the correct block first, then take the first address in that block as the network address.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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